RES/39/11 Equal participation in political and public affairs

GE.18-16538(E)



Human Rights Council Thirty-ninth session

10–28 September 2018

Agenda item 3

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 28 September 2018

39/11. Equal participation in political and public affairs

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights,

Recalling all relevant international human rights treaties, in particular the

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,

Recalling also all relevant General Assembly and Human Rights Council resolutions

on participation in political and public affairs, in particular Council resolutions 24/8 of 26

September 2013 on equal political participation, and 27/24 of 26 September 2014, 30/9 of 1

October 2015 and 33/22 of 30 September 2016,

Emphasizing the critical importance of equal and effective participation in political

and public affairs for democracy, the rule of law, social inclusion, economic development

and advancing gender equality and empowerment of women and girls, as well as for the

realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Welcoming the contributions of Member States and other stakeholders to the drafting

of the guidelines on the effective implementation of the right to participate in public affairs,

both through their written submissions and their participation in regional consultations,

Acknowledging the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for

Human Rights in preparing the draft guidelines on the effective implementation of the right

to participate in public affairs,1 presented to the Human Rights Council by the Office of the

High Commissioner, and taking note with interest of the draft guidelines,

1. Presents these guidelines as a set of orientations for States, as well as for,

where appropriate, other relevant stakeholders in relation to the effective implementation of

the right to participate in public affairs;

2. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human

Rights to disseminate and promote the use of the guidelines and to provide technical

1 A/HRC/39/28.

United Nations A/HRC/RES/39/11

cooperation and capacity-building to States upon their request regarding the use of the

guidelines;

3. Also requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare, in

consultation with States and all other relevant stakeholders, a follow-up report on good

practices and challenges faced by States in using the guidelines, and to present it to the

Human Rights Council at its forty-eighth session;

4. Encourages Governments, local authorities, relevant United Nations bodies,

specialized agencies, funds and programmes, other intergovernmental organizations and

national human rights institutions to give due consideration to the guidelines in the

formulation and implementation of their policies and measures concerning equal

participation in political and public affairs.

40th meeting

28 September 2018

[Adopted without a vote.]